Editor's Choice
Is there any justification for France's Reign of Terror (1793-1794)?
Quick answer:
There is no justification for the extreme actions during France's Reign of Terror. While concerns about counterrevolutionary threats were understandable, the indiscriminate violence and mass killings were excessive and unacceptable. Even if the revolution's goals were noble, the sheer scale of executions, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, cannot be justified outside of a battlefield context. The ends do not justify such means.
No, there is no justification for the extreme actions that were taken by the revolutionaries during the Reign of Terror.
It is perfectly understandable that revolutionaries would worry greatly about counterrevolutionary activity. It might even be acceptable to jail or exile people who are a serious threat to a revolution (let us assume that the revolution's ends are good). However, the relatively indiscriminate violence of the Reign of Terror was beyond the bounds of anything that could be acceptable. It was surely not necessary for the Revolution to kill tens of thousands of people.
The end may justifiy some means, but no end can justify this much killing anywhere other than on the battlefield.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.